Is working at heights a licence?

No. Unlike forklift or EWP, there is no high risk work licence for working at heights. It is a unit of competency, RIIWHS204E Work safely at heights, and you receive a statement of attainment rather than a SafeWork NSW photo card.

At what height does it apply?

There is no single trigger height in NSW. The Work Health and Safety Regulation requires a fall risk to be managed wherever a person could fall any distance, with specific control duties where a fall of more than 2 metres is possible. Site rules and principal contractors often set their own thresholds.

How often do I need to refresh it?

The unit has no legislated expiry. Most NSW sites and principal contractors ask for refresher training every 2 years, and many providers advertise the course on that cycle.

Providers listed here advertise about $150 to $650, with a median near $250. Most courses run a single day.

Working at heights in NSW: who needs the ticket

RIIWHS204E explained: when height safety training is required, what it is not, how often it is refreshed and what it costs in NSW.

Updated 2026-09-25

What it is

RIIWHS204E Work safely at heights is a unit of competency, not a licence. You finish with a statement of attainment from the RTO — there is no SafeWork NSW photo card, and nothing to apply for afterwards. That is the single most common misunderstanding about this ticket.

Who needs it

Anyone whose work puts them at risk of a fall: roofing and scaffolding, solar installation, telecommunications, facade and window cleaning, warehouse racking, tree work, and most construction sites as a principal contractor's induction requirement. In practice the site decides. If you are asked for "your heights ticket", this is the unit meant.

What the law actually requires

The NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation requires a person conducting a business to manage the risk of a fall from any height, and imposes specific control duties where a fall of more than 2 metres is possible. Training is one control among several — it does not replace edge protection, harnesses or a safe work method statement.

Refresher

The unit carries no legislated expiry. Site and contractor requirements are what bite, and 2 years is the usual interval asked for in NSW. Check what your principal contractor requires before booking, because paying for a refresher a year early is common.

Cost and duration

Providers listed on this site advertise about $150 to $650, median near $250, and almost all run it as a single day. Where a provider bundles it with confined space entry the combined course is usually two days and cheaper than booking separately.

Find working at heights courses · Confined space courses

Frequently asked questions

Is working at heights a licence?: No. Unlike forklift or EWP, there is no high risk work licence for working at heights. It is a unit of competency, RIIWHS204E Work safely at heights, and you receive a statement of attainment rather than a SafeWork NSW photo card.
At what height does it apply?: There is no single trigger height in NSW. The Work Health and Safety Regulation requires a fall risk to be managed wherever a person could fall any distance, with specific control duties where a fall of more than 2 metres is possible. Site rules and principal contractors often set their own thresholds.
How often do I need to refresh it?: The unit has no legislated expiry. Most NSW sites and principal contractors ask for refresher training every 2 years, and many providers advertise the course on that cycle.
What does it cost?: Providers listed here advertise about $150 to $650, with a median near $250. Most courses run a single day.